Tough terrain makes for good soldiering
Framed by rocky features, crocodile-infested rivers and red sunsets, the Bradshaw Ranges are one of the Army’s most picturesque – and toughest – training areas.
CAPTION: Personnel from the 1st Brigade and the Armed Forces of the Philippines clear an objective as Battle Group Tiger at Bradshaw training area, NT, during Exercise Predator’s Run 2024. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Warrant Officer Class Two Miranda Buckley.
Usually quiet and sparsely populated, the serenity of the Northern Territory training area was disrupted by personnel from the 1st Brigade, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom’s Littoral Response Group-South participating in Exercise Predator’s Run 2024.
1st Brigade’s major multilateral combined arms warfighter exercise is Army’s largest and most significant littoral manoeuvre training event of the year.
The UK’s Littoral Response Group-South, including Royal Fleet Auxiliary Lyme Bay and Argus, sailed from Darwin Harbour to the Victoria River.
On arrival, Royal Marine Commandos from 40 Commando reconnoitred and secured landing sites at the southern edge of Bradshaw, paving the way for the 5th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment-led Battle Group Tiger.
CAPTION: Australian Defence Force personnel from the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, approach a boat ramp to evacuate a simulated casualty for treatment near Timber Creek, Northern Territory, during Exercise Predator’s Run 2024. Photo by Corporal Madhur Chitnis.
Commander of the 1st Brigade Brigadier Doug Pashley said the exercise was about readiness.
“It was about progressing our mastery of operating in the littoral environment, working with our international partners and, most importantly, learning,” he said.
“There’s tough and then there’s territory tough.”
The multinational integrated Battle Group practised skills in littoral, field and urban environments, with an emphasis on mental fortitude.
Already pushed hard from their long journey inserting into the training area, Battle Group Tiger proceeded north almost 40km, night after night, assaulting and securing objectives in the unforgiving climate.
CAPTION: Personnel from the 1st Brigade clear an objective at the Bradshaw training area, NT, during Exercise Predator’s Run 2024. Photo by Warrant Officer Class Two Miranda Buckley.
Commander of the 1st (Australian) Division Major General Ash Collingburn said the tough terrain made for good soldiering.
“Exposure to Australia equips global allies for similar battlegrounds worldwide,” he said.
“Just because it’s difficult to train there, because it stretches your logistics or stretches your health support plan, that should not be a reason to not train there. That is the exact reason to train there.”
Fittingly, all call signs were presented with problems that demanded creative, flexible and resourceful solutions.
As the exercise drew to a close, there was a real sense of mateship among the multinational group, who had worked hard to achieve their objectives.
Major General Collingburn said it was an important activity to demonstrate how the ADF was implementing the National Defence Strategy.
“First of all, the integrated and focused force in action. It’s operating from our northern bases; it’s working with our partners, friends and allies.
“It is an exercise in the combined arms fighting system. And importantly, it’s testing our littoral manoeuvre capability.”
CAPTION: Personnel from the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment and the Armed Forces of the Philippines carry out an objective clearance at the Bradshaw training area, NT, during Exercise Predator’s Run 2024. Photo: Captain Annie Richardson
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